Tourism

Since the opening of the Seychelles International Airport in 1971, the tourism sector has been central to the Seychelles economy.  The natural beauty of the 115 islands as well as the unique creole culture have not only attracted a growing number of visitors but have also caused the islands to be a magnet for regional and international companies looking to invest in the sector. 

Europe remains one of the Seychelles’ primary markets, with the highest number of visitors from Germany, France, and the UK. The Seychelles has also seen an increased number of arrivals from Italy, Israel, India, Switzerland, Russia, South Africa, and the United States of America. Although the tourism sector was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it picked up rapidly with Seychelles reopening its borders. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism aims to have 258,000 visitors by 2022. A total of 91,195 visitors landed in quarter one only.

To date we have:

Visitors today have a wide range of options to choose from in terms of accommodation. These ranges from world-renowned hotel chains such as the Hilton, Kempinski, Marriott, Savoy, Banyan Tree, and Four Seasons to smaller hotels, guesthouses, self-catering establishments, and villas. Furthermore, the inner islands scattered around the main island of Mahé create a safe and calm harbour inside the reef for yachts and schooners, also offering accommodation for visitors.

Investment opportunities in Tourism

The comparative performance of tourism in the Seychelles in the last few years is an excellent indicator of the future in store for the country’s tourism sector, with increased visitor arrivals, government revenue, and a contribution to output, employment, and tourism earnings.

The sector can potentially generate significant economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefits in the long term through the projected increase in tourism investments and earnings in the upcoming years. Some key target segments for the Seychelles tourism sector have been identified in the continued effort to promote sustainable tourism. This includes ecotourism, cultural tourism, and sports tourism.

Sustainable tourism development represents a unique and strategic competitive advantage for the Seychelles as a tourist destination.